Denver-based author Bud Bilanich is all about giving out free books on World Book Night.

Bud Bilanich is crazy for books. He has a library of 5,000, and about 1,000 on his Kindle.

The Denver-based author and career coach was one of an estimated 25,000 volunteers across the United States who gave away free paperback books on World Book Night, being celebrated on today (Monday, April 23).

On the 16th Street Mall, he gave away copies of “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak because it’s one of his favorite books.

“It’s about someone learning to read,” he said. “It also deals with the Holocaust. Her step-family is hiding a Jewish family in the basement. It’s a great book.”

A man from Sri Lanka, wandering over from an event at the Convention Center, snapped up one of the copies.

“His biggest concern was not being able to fit it into his suitcase,” said Bilanich.

Housed in the large space next to H&M at 16th and Welton Streets, it contains over 60 hand-crafted exhibits, half of which are interactive, and all made by third-generation craftsmen, according to a press release. Each exhibit is a replica built from Leonardo’s 500 year old designs.